[Alcohol-related problems in mortality in middle-aged urban-dwelling men from cerebro-cardiovascular diseases]

A survey was performed of the life-styles and medical histories of men, who died of cerebro-cardiovascular diseases at ages between 40 and 64 years in Hirakata, Neyagawa, Moriguchi and Kadoma cities in Osaka prefecture. Data was available on 127 of 172 men who died in 1988. Of these, 28 had histories of alcohol-related problems. Analysis showed that the amount of alcohol consumed was associated with disease history and serious alcohol-related problems. 1) Histories of hypertension, cerebrovascular and liver disease were found more often in heavy drinkers with a daily alcohol intake exceeding the equivalent of 46 g pure ethanol compared to either moderate drinkers with a daily alcohol intake of less than 46 g or abstainers. 2) Of 28 subjects with alcohol-related problems, one had been treated at a specialized alcoholic-clinic, two had been admitted to psychiatric hospitals and one subject had consulted a physician at a mental health clinic of the public health center in his community. 3) Although 18 of the 28 subjects with alcohol-related problems had their own regular doctors, they did not appear to have received adequate care. 4) Subjects with alcohol-related problems had histories of cerebrovascular and liver diseases more often than those without alcohol-related problems. 5) Subjects with alcohol-related problems were confronted with unemployment, divorce and housing problems more often than those without alcohol-related problems. With the increasing amount of alcohol consumption in Japan, alcohol-related problems need more attention. There is an urgent need to establish community-based strategies for prevention of alcohol-related problems and to organize a network of multi-disciplinary support teams for those with problems such as alcoholics in urban communities.